Taking a Disney Cruise from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL feels like the best-kept secret! The airport and cruise port are so close to each other, Disney Cruise Line has its own cruise ship terminal that allows you to park literally right beside the ship, and Fort Lauderdale is its own vacation destination. Now that I’ve let you in on the magic of cruising from Fort Lauderdale, you might be wondering about the logistics.
Disney Cruise Line partners with two hotels in Fort Lauderdale – the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. Both of these options can be added to your overall Disney Cruise Line package as either a pre- or post-cruise stay. Coming in the night before your cruise is always recommended, and this also allows you to add the Disney Cruise Line transportation to get to and from Port Everglades. This means an earlier port arrival time and having Disney Cruise Line take care of your luggage.
Now that you know why you should add a pre- or post-cruise stay, it’s time to talk about the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa! This beachfront resort offers private beach access with included beach chairs, an oasis of a pool deck, multiple restaurants including waterfront dining, a full-service 22,000 square foot spa, and guest rooms with balconies that overlook either the beach or marina. Room prices start at around $200 per night with multiple suite-style options for larger families.
1. Extend Your Tropical Vacation
The option to add a night or two before and after your cruise really does make your vacation *feel* like a vacation. Especially when your cruise port is a tropical destination. The Marriott Harbor Beach combines both a great beach setup and a lagoon-style pool that truly makes it a resort and not just a hotel. Just stepping outside the lobby, you are transported with dozens of palm trees, a sweeping beach view, and plenty of seating areas to soak it in. During our stay, we met families that were both there as a stand-alone beach vacation and as a post-Disney Cruise stay to soak in the beach just a little bit longer.
2. Luxe Accommodations
In the past year, the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort completely renovated all 650 of its guest rooms in a $32 million project. This means new furnishings and textiles, upgraded amenities like spa-like showers and USB charging ports, and modern décor that mimics the beach just outside. The standard rooms are spacious at around 340 square feet.
3. Impressive Amenities
In addition to the obvious amenities like the pool and the beach – the Marriott does a LOT to make it a comfortable and inclusive stay. As many beach chairs as you need are included with your stay. You don’t need to reserve these in advance and the Marriott team sets them up just for you so you don’t feel like you’re fighting for chairs. You can also add a beach umbrella for around $30 which is also set-up for you. This is a big perk – many Florida beach resorts charge $60 for two chairs and and an umbrella. Plus, it’s one less thing you have to worry about needing on your vacation. Your beach set-up is ready and waiting for you.
You can also reserve a beach or pool cabana set-up that accommodates up to 6 for an additional fee.
Regardless of your beach set-up, there are dedicated servers that deliver food and drinks from the Loggerhead Sand Bar, which is one of two beachside restaurants. Entrees are around $20 each and your server can also bring you things like ice water, kids’ meals, and shareable snacks.
Inside the resort, there is a full-service Starbucks open daily from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Not only does this mean you can enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink before hopping on the Disney Cruise Line bus, but you can also order in the Starbucks app and have your coffee in minutes. I was able to order in the Starbucks app and have coffee back in my room in less than 5 minutes… I almost couldn’t believe it.
In addition to these dining options, you can also enjoy a nice dinner at 3030 Ocean with locally-sourced seafood and ocean views, the 3030 Bar for family friendly appetizers plus wine, beer, and cocktails with TVs if you’re trying to catch a game, Riva (located in 3030 Ocean) for a sit-down breakfast, Sea Level Restaurant and Bar for a casual ocean front lunch or dinner with the option for indoor seating, and HB Fresh for grab and go smoothies and juices.
The key takeaway from all of these options is that there is enough variety of dining options that you wouldn’t need to leave the resort! You can also have groceries or take-out services like DoorDash delivered to bell services.
4. Ease of Travel
Perhaps the coolest thing about the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort, is that from your beach chair you can see both the cruise ships and airplanes leaving Fort Lauderdale. This gives you an idea of just how close everything is. Even if you don’t take advantage of the Disney Cruise Line transportation, you can take an Uber/ Lyft from the resort to either the airport or cruise ship terminal for around $20.
This proximity, coupled with the fact that you can take a beach vacation instead of “just” a pre- or post-night stay to get you to your Disney Cruise, really adds value to the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. After staying at the resort, it really is one of the nicer beach experiences I’ve had along any of the Florida coasts. And as someone traveling with a 3-year-old, it really felt like a family-friendly version of Miami. This means great amenities, a tropical destination, amazing food, and you’re with other families also taking cruises or enjoying a beach vacation.
Pro-tip! Be sure to add your Marriott Bonvoy membership number at check-in. Not only will you earn points for your stay, but you will also get free amenities like a complimentary beverage at check-in and, depending on your status, a guaranteed late check-out.
Be sure to reach out to your Dreams Unlimited Travel Agent for more information about both cruising from Fort Lauderdale/ Port Everglades and adding your pre- or post-cruise stay at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort! And if you can’t decide between taking a Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral or Port Everglades, you can also watch our full comparison video.
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Thank you for bringing this resort to our attention!!
No thanks, the additional 4+ hour drive down I-95 isn’t worth crossing out of Fort Lauderdale. DCL should have consolidated and got another dock out of Port Canaveral or NJ/NYC.